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INsiders Guide

INsiders Guide: Stefanie Michaela, ASHLEY COOKE, Alma Muñeca, Sydney Jo Jackson…

Singer-songwriter Stefanie Michaela drops her new single and music video, “Anything Is Possible,” a fearless statement about risk, heart, and self-belief. Co-written with legendary hitmakers Steve Dorff (Songwriters Hall of Fame; three-time Grammy and six-time Emmy nominee) and Michael Jay (sold over 75 million records worldwide; co-wrote and produced Martika’s worldwide #1 hit Toy Soldiers; and penned Declaration of Love for Celine Dion’s Grammy-winning Falling Into You), and produced by Grammy-winning Keith Thomas (Selena, Amy Grant, Vanessa Williams), the track, featured on Stefanie’s upcoming EP Turning Pages, pushes listeners to chase dreams, take bold chances, and believe in their own power to shape their future. The true complexity of the song lies in its simplicity, the purity of its message mirrored by the elegant, heartfelt writing and the music video’s understated yet deep storytelling.

Big Loud / Back Blocks Music’s powerhouse country artist, songwriter and breakout star, Ashley Cooke, announces her brand-new project, ace, releasing November 14. The project features 9 tracks total with 5 brand-new songs including the highly-anticipated fan-favorite live track, “baby blues.” Pre-save ace here. Full tracklist below.

Says Ashley on ace“Growing up, my dad gave me this nickname: Ace. I’m not sure if it was his love of blackjack or because it’s kind of my initials, but nonetheless, it just stuck. It makes me think of the person that I am, truly, to my core, behind closed doors.

It’s been about two and a half years since my debut record was released. So many incredible, bucket-list things filled the days after with the best people I could ever imagine getting to share them with. But life has a funny way of spitting rain when you think it’s gonna be a sunny day. I swear, one thing hit after another. I lost some of the most important people in my life, and health issues in my family piled up left and right. Love came, and love went.

This music is derived from those real situations. It’s brutal honesty. It’s a story in chronological order. And it’s a collection of songs welcoming you to the next chapter.

This is ace. Make yourself at home.”

Alma Muñeca is a 4 piece art pop group based in Austin, TX. Formed in 2024, the band is lead by Cocó Allegra and produced by Ernesto Grey (Font, Farmer’s Wife, Loveme, The Opera, etc). Cocó, a Panamanian immigrant, settled in Austin four years ago. It wasn’t until she met collaborator, Ernesto, that she fully committed to writing and performing live. The band’s sound is inspired by 90’s icons such as Bjork and contemporaries like FKA Twigs and Rosalia. Through their live performances, Cocó aims to highlight and lift up the queer and Latino community.

The band’s live debut, back in February, sold out and they are now embarking on their first tour across Texas to promote their new singles out now.

Sydney Jo Jackson is a Birmingham-born, London-based soul-funk singer-songwriter whose music blends raw storytelling with the grooves and grit of classic soul. With over 4.1 million streams, a playlist reach of more than 24 million, and 50K followers across her social platforms, Jackson has carved out a voice that is at once timeless and boundary-pushing. Her career has seen her top the ARIA Dance Chart, collaborate with Grammy-winning producers, and perform alongside Jools Holland at Abbey Road.Her new single, “Good at Goodbye,” is a cross-cultural duet that unites three countries in one song: the UK, Indonesia, and Germany. Featuring rising Indonesian vocalist Drey Henuk and produced by Jonas Bauer in Germany, the track delivers a global soul sound that feels fresh and universally resonant. “Exactly why I wanted this record to happen — it feels global and timeless all at once,” Jackson explains

Queer Canadian-French Alt-Pop Artist Maryze Unveils Electrifying UK Debut Single ‘False Icon’ – A Synth-Soaked, Cinematic Critique of Celebrity Culture

Queer Canadian-French alt-pop artist Maryze releases their highly anticipated debut UK single ‘False Icon’ on Thursday 22nd October via Hot Tramp Distribution. The track, produced by Skyler Cocco, fuses the drama of 80s synths – evoking Eurythmics and later echoes in Lady Gaga – with the campy grotesque of cult body-horror cinema, reflected in the single’s striking polaroid artwork shot by Italian director Andrea Calvetti.

Inspired in part by the 1986 film SocietyFalse Icon is a glittering yet scathing takedown of Hollywood’s two-faced sirens. The narrator cuts through the glamour and illusion of a con artist worshipped by the masses, exposing the toxic culture of celebrity idolatry while acknowledging the magnetic pull of its shine. Written by Maryze with Skyler, both women that have lived the seduction and seen the deception, the track is both a critique and a confession.

The single coincides with her European Tour that includes a debut date at London’s 229 Club on 25th October.

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“When I moved to Los Angeles, I noticed some artists surrounding themselves with fans rather than friends, using people for clout under the guise of community. That’s where the lyric ‘Your friends, your fans, your captives’ came from. Skyler and I commiserated over having noticed this same trend, and wrote the track to call out manipulators in the industry who create the illusion of connection to lift themselves up without regard for those around them. We drew from the drama and camp of both 80s synthpop and body horror films of the era. In the visualizer, we built a character of this ‘False Icon’ (played by Sadie Scheufler) who lures people in with glamour, only to reveal the emptiness and ugliness beneath. Sadie and I developed the creative concept together and I’m blown away by how she brought it to life – she was terrifying on set.”  MARYZE

Maryze’s stormy-sweet alt-pop blends electronic beats with fiery, introspective bilingual lyrics. After touring Australia and New Zealand with Alex Cameron in 2024 and going viral with their single Langue, Maryze spent much of 2025 in Los Angeles artist residencies, including the prestigious SOCAN House. They released Versed earlier this year, performed at SXSW, and opened for acts including Boy Harsher, Princess Superstar and Desire, further cementing their reputation as a bold and boundary-pushing voice in alt-pop.

XO have today announced details of debut EP Fashionably Late, which will drop on November 14th on Polydor Label Group. The hotly-tipped group have also confirmed details of their first ever headline tour, which sold out instantly and takes them around the UK later this month. Fashionably Late features early single ‘Lovesick’, new track ‘Real Friends’ (co-written with Charli xcx) and introduces the five-piece with their sights set on being Britain’s next, best girlband…

Creating Fashionably Late has been, as they say in pop, A Journey. Its six songs are there to show not only the arc of a night out, from getting ready (‘Rush Hour’) and taking charge (‘Candy’) to catching feelings (‘Lovesick’) and going back to your mates (‘Real Friends’) – but also the origin-story of XO, and how they’ve already evolved emotionally and artistically. Every aspect of the pop they’re keen to deliver – feisty, unpolished, attitude-heavy, leftfield – is primed, as are their personalities: ‘Silly Boy’, for instance, came to Zoe and Shali in an Uber and was written in response to catcalling women, whilst DIY fan favourite ‘Ponytail’ (the first song XO made upon forming in late 2024) is an ironically-titled order to let your hair down. It’s a feeling of togetherness that is summoned in the accompanying Fashionably Late aesthetic, a wink and nod to ‘Wannabe’ that follows XO as they take to the streets and invite their audience along for the ride.

The self-confessed “most chaotic girlband you’ve ever met in your life”, XO are force-of-nature five-piece Emmy, Reanna, Shali, Summer and Zoe. In sound and spirit they evoke that classic lineage of world-class British groups, but with a contemporary and completely inclusive twist: think the unstoppable UK energy of Spice Girls as raised on the global pop-girls (Tate McRae), plus that new wave of all-choreo and all-conquering acts like Katseye. Yet XO strive for something more imperfect and unapologetic in their firebrand of Pop. Moments on Fashionably Late are as applicable to a romantic situation as they are themes of friendship, sisterhood, and the band’s thoroughly Gen Z vision of Girl Power: “XO is an energy for us, like an aura.”

Hailing from Essex, London, Liverpool, Derbyshire and Hong Kong, XO are quickly amassing an ardent audience for their bangers and their message. With early support across Radio 1, BBC Introducing, Saturday Mashup! and their first headline tour selling out immediately, the band’s ambitions for Fashionably Late are as unique to each girl as they are utterly unified. “To set the tone,” says Summer, keen to stay in the moment. Zoe, however, simply states: “World Domination.” You really wouldn’t put it past XO – Fashionably Late, but also right on time.

DBL A returns with ‘SUPERMARKET’ – a sharp, indie-rock anthem rooted in UK youth culture. Inspired by early Arctic Monkeys, the track captures love and heartbreak in the most unlikely of places: your local grocery store.

‘SUPERMARKET’  is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.

Wintur is an LA-based indie pop artist who has been gaining traction on TikTok, where listeners often compare his sound to a blend of Sombr, Billie Eilish, and Conan Gray. His music is defined by an introspective indie-pop style. He has released three singles “Burnt,” “Resentment,” “Bye” and his new single “writer’s block” is set to release on October 22nd. With growing momentum online and a unique voice in the indie scene, Wintur is carving out a space as one of the next artists to watch.

Berlin via Milwaukee indie pop/folk singer-songwriter Queen Quail shares the haunting, resilient track “Southside” out now with a matching visual. The resonant forthcoming debut EP, Narcissus is due out November 18 and available for pre-save now. Through six tracks, the musician explores the nuances of longing, identity, philosophy and the search of home over sweeping production and emotive vocals.

“Southside” delves into restlessness and the grief of lost time while propelling into the future. Queen Quail shares, “It’s about continuing to be haunted by an experience even after trying so hard to process it and get over it. I guess sometimes things just stick with you even years after. I like the idea that even if you’re somewhat a victim of circumstance, you still have agency and can choose a different path, and take responsibility for the environments you put yourself in.”

There’s a particular perseverance felt throughout as it culminates in a grand, optimistic finale. Queen Quail continues, “The track laments this feeling of not being able to escape something, but then ends with this big explosion of hope and resilience.”

Delaney Bailey is excited to announce her new album, Concave, available everywhere January 21, 2026, via AWAL. New single “Far Away” arrives today, previewing the expansive new record, contemplating youthful invincibility over propulsive drums and melodic riffs.

“‘Far Away’ is about getting older and realizing that I know much less than I thought I did,” Bailey explains. “When I was younger, I thought that the experiences I had and the things I went through taught me enough about the world. I had learned enough about myself, I had learned enough about the way I interact with the world and my opinions on certain things. As I grow older, I’ve become much less convinced that I know anything at all.:

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“Although this can be scary, I tend to view my lack of knowing in a positive light. It’s nice to remind myself that there is so much left to experience. Meeting myself over and over again has become less painful as life goes on. I can’t tell if that’s because I like myself more the more I learn, or if it’s because I’ve gotten better at handling change. Probably both. That’s the good thing about your 20s, I think; change is the only consistent thing, so you learn to get used to it.”

  • Email: neill@outloudculture.com
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